Joseph t



(No Model.)

J. T. DUNHAM.

ENVELOPE.

No. 331,118. Patented Nov. 24, 1885.

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UNITED STATES Parana Orrrcn.

JOSEPH T. DUNHAM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ENVELOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,118, dated November 24, 1885.

Application filed January 26, 1885.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH T. DUNHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Envelopes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an envelope designed primarily for use as an envelope for mailing samples and other like matter, and for use as a tag for marking goods to be shipped. An envelope for mailing samples must, in order to be subject only to postagerates as thirdclassmatter, be left unsealed; and it has been customary to provide envelopes of this character with a sealing-flap at one end and a flap secured by a string or paper fastener at the other end; but in order to get at the contents of the envelope for examination it has been necessary to untie the string or remove the fastener, both of which must be carefully replaced. My invention obviates these difficulties by rendering the removal of the fastenings unnecessary, by reason of the peculiar construction of the envelope.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a back view of my improved envelope as I prefer to make it for use as a mailing-envelope for samples. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal midsection of same, but showing the flaps folded down. Fig. 3 is a similar section to Fig. 2, showing the top flap secured by a paper fastener and the envelope partly opened for examining the contents. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a string employed for securing the top flap in lieu of a paper fastener. Fig. 5 shows metallic eyelets in lieu of the disk or washer re-enforcing eyelets shown in the previous figures. Fig. 6 shows my improved envelope as I prefer to construct it for use as a tag and envelope, the bottom flap in this case being secured by a metallic eyelet.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A is the body of an envelope, of any desired size and proportions, and made from any suitable material, but usually of some tough kind of paper. This body has two plies or thicknessesone forming the front a and the other the back I).

In Fig. 1 a triangular portion of the front a is seen at each end of the back b.

Serial No. 153,971. (No model.)

envelope these flaps are folded on the dotted lines as w, as will be well understood. The bottom flap, B, is or may be provided with a coat of gum, y, to make it self-sealing.

The front a of the envelope has a hole, 0, punched in it quite close to the end of the back 12, as seen at the left in Fig. l, and this hole is re-enforced by a washer, d, gummed to the face of the envelope. The flap G has also a hole, 0, punched in it in a position to register with the hole 0 when the flap O is folded down, as in Fig. 2, and this hole is reenforced by a washer, d.

The envelope may be furnished to the trade with the flap 0 turned down and secured by a paper fastener, e, as in Fig. 3, or any other suitable fastening. The flap Bis left unsealed, and the user inserts the material to be mailed at the bottom and seals down flap B, in order to close the filling-aperture. The flap 0 and the washers d d overlap the end of the back I), and thus secure this end of the envelope from being accidentally opened and the contents lost; but the examining official at the post-office may with very little trouble open the envelope at this end by bending back the flap O and the washer thereon far enough to enable him to draw out the end of back 2), (as in Fig. 3,) and thus gain access to the interior. After examination the parts may be returned to their normal position.

Fig. 5 shows metal eyelets as substitutes for the washers d d. Where these are used, I usually make the flap 0 longer, so as to lap over farther on the envelope-back I), as these eyelets do not provide such an extent of clamping-surface as the washers. The washers d d are usually made from thick tough paper, and cemented to the envelope with a water-proof cement. These may be replaced by metallic washers secured by clinched clips. WVhere the flap O is secured bya readily-applied fastening, the bottom flap, 13, might be sealed down in the manufacture, thus leaving the other end open for the insertion of the matter to be mailed, the flap O to be secured by the is to be used as a tag for marking goods to be shipped this string may serve to attach the envelope-tag to the goods.

I may sometimes gum the flap G to the exposed portion of the inner face of the front a, but this I do not consider necessary; and I may also, where the envelope is to be used as a tag and is liable to rough usage in handling, gum the corners of flap O lightly to the back I), to prevent its being too easily bent-- secured by-the string or wire whereby the tag is attached to the goods.

Having thus described my invention, I donot claim the use of the washers d, broadly, as these have long been used on tags; nor do I claim the fastening, together of envelopes by means of clinched eyelets in. lieu of gum, as this is not new.

- As I have before stated, mailing-envelopes havebeen used having one flap tied or fastened down in some similar way, and the other flap sealed; but in these the fastening device must be removed to get at the contents. In

my former patent, also, I showed a combined tag and envelope, and this I make .noclaim. to herein; but I What I claim as new is 1. An envelope havinga flap, 0, provided with a re-enforced hole, 0, and having a simi- 4O lar hole, 0, in the front ply of its body, andthe said holes constructed to register or coincide when the flap O is folded down, whereby the end of the back ply, b, of the envelopebody, which extends entirely across the latter, is clamped and removably secured, substantially as shown and described.

2. A mailing and tag envelope havinga. flap, C, folded over on and secured down to the inner face of the front ply ofthe body, 50

and said flap being also constructed to take over the free end of the back ply of the body,

as shown, whereby the mouth of the envelope covered by said flap G is secured against accidental opening, substantially as and for the 5 5 purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH T. DUN HAM.

Witnesses:

HENRY OoNNE'rT, ARTHUR (J. FRASER. 

